The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said Monday that it was opening an investigation into the city of Chicago after Mayor Brandon Johnson's comments Sunday highlighting prominent Black officials in his administration. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon wrote in a letter to Johnson posted on X that she had “authorized an investigation” into whether Chicago is “engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination” following Johnson’s remarks at a church Sunday. Johnson said in remarks at Apostolic Church of God that the deputy mayor, the chief operations officer, the budget director and others are all Black people. Johnson said some of his detractors criticize him by saying the only thing he talks about "is the hiring of Black people." “No, what I’m saying is when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else," he said. "Having people in my administration that will look out for the interest of everyone, and everyone means you have to look out for the interests of Black folks, because that hasn't happened. That's how we ensure long-term sustainable growth," he added. Johnson had also criticized the Trump administration's efforts to "wipe us out of history." "Black folks will be here in this city and in cities across America, protecting this democracy, protecting humanity, because that's what Black people have always done," he said. The mayor’s office said in a statement that Johnson "is proud to have the most diverse administration in the history of our city."

Twenty-four hours after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson proudly proclaimed the number of Black city officials he's hired, officials with the Trump administration's U.S. Department of Justice announced they are investigating the city's hiring practices. On Monday afternoon, the DOJ's Civil Rights Division sent a letter to Johnson explaining it was opening an investigation to determine whether the city of Chicago is "engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race," following comments Johnson made at a South Side church on Sunday.

After President Donald Trump was elected to a second term, Johnson claimed during a news conference that the new president is a threat to Black families in his city. "His threat is not just towards new arrivals and undocumented families. His threats are also against Black families," Johnson said. "We’re going to protect Black folks, Brown folks, Asian folks. The City of Chicago will be better, stronger and safer despite who’s in the White House."